Allow me to introduce myself...

Photo courtesy of Amy Reese Pruett

My name is Cristina and I'm a filmmaker. It's been 2 days since I made my last film... Everyday I wake up and think about films. Ok, no, seriously... this is not a self help meeting. I apologize.
Recently Jon and I decided it was about time I start contributing to the blog. Hope you don't mind.
For my first post, I'd like to talk about one of the most challenging shoots we've ever been a part of. We shot a promotional video for Shakedown Events at the Barbary in Philly. This was the darkest club we've ever shot in !!
We used our 5d + 7d and had to bump the ISO to 6400 at certain points. After we left the shoot, I was adamant about getting a 1.2 lens asap. Now that we sat down to edit it, we got to thinking... What would have happened if we had been contacted to do this shoot two years ago? Would we have really showed up at this bar with our XHA1's and video lights? Maybe... but I think it would've killed the vibe. In a situation like this, I think it's important to go unnoticed... Don't you?
Enjoy.


Shakedown from Cristina Valdivieso + Jon Connor on Vimeo.


Shot on the 5d + 7d
50 f/1.4 & 24-70 f/2.8
Glidetrack
Zacuto Z Finder
Zacuto Tactical Shooter
Interior Timelapses done with Nikon D300

Read more...

The DSLR Cinematography Guide

                                             Photo courtesy of Amy Reese Pruett


I don't claim to know everything or even close to it when it comes to filmmaking or DSLR's.
That's the great thing about cultivating a useful online resource and community. You don't have to. We all need to help each other as much as we can. It elevates the bar. It pushes the community forward. We are only as strong collectively as our weakest link. So when you assist someone else
you make yourself better in the process. But enough of the "social commentary" diatribe. The point of it all is I would like to thank my good friend Chad Nickle from Wild Orchid Studios in Austin Texas for bringing this very,very informative article on DSLR's to my attention.
The DSLR Cinematography Guide

Read more...

Reel World: Follow up Patrick Murphy-Racey

Some of you may remember the SEC Championship game I featured on here that was shot by Patrick Murphy-Racey. Well I opened my email this morning and was pleasantly surprised to hear back from him. Here's an excerpt:
"Hey Jon,
No one sent more people to my Vimeo page after I shot the SEC HD video than your site... Because of all the activity there (almost 10K views) I ended up getting a call from Patrick Moreau at Stillmotion out of Canada. I got hired on to shoot the NFC Championship game in New Orleans along with three other shooters. Here is what they put on the NFL Network's website:
Vikings-Saints Remix
I can't take any credit for the awesome Steadicam work and different approach that they brought into the project, as I only really shot game action with long glass as I did at the SEC. But I had a blast being pretty much the only guy there shooting game action with DSLR video on the 1DM4 and 7D's... Fun, fun, fun...
thanks, great site you have, keep up the good work!!!!
pm-r :) "
Another cool article about Patrick Murphy-Racey

Now that just made my day. It was very nice of him to write back to me and let me know that.
It was also very,very cool of him to make the behind the scenes video to explain how he shot the SEC game. I love the community of filmmakers and photographers helping each other
out. If I played even a minute role in helping him get that job, that makes me feel really good.
Obviously, he is extremely talented, hardworking, and all around nice  guy. That alone
will get you everywhere you need or want in life. Sometimes it's just good to get a reminder
of that.

Read more...

Addicted to Timelapses

Timelapses are very addictive. Ever since we got our intervalometers we have been
obsessed with them. Our good friend Philip Bloom is also obsessed with them.
As a friend it is important to know when someone's love or passion has crossed a line
and become a dangerous addiction. Cristina Valdivieso , Sara Collaton and I knew
something had to be done.

Read more...